Determinants of adoption of renewable energy in Kenya
Abstract
Kenya being on the equator experiences enough solar energy of between 4-6 KWh/M2 which
provides excellent opportunity for solar energy development. Nonetheless, the cost of acquiring
it is becoming an inhibiting factor as demonstrated by the slow adoption of the technology
despite the huge potential the country possesses. Moreover adoption of biogas as a source of
energy is also very low. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the determinants of adoption
of solar and biogas using cross sectional data collected from 70 districts across the country. The
study used bivariate probit model so as to account for interdependence in adoption decisions.
However, the results indicated that decisions to adopt solar and biogas are independent. Thus
the study used separate probit equations to investigate the impact of household head
characteristics, household characteristics and economic factors on adoption of both solar and
biogas. The result revealed that household heads with secondary and post secondary education
and household size significantly influence adoption of solar energy while gender of the
household head and household size significantly influences adoption of biogas. The study
recommended that government and other stakeholders should create awareness and sensitize the
learned people regarding the benefits of adopting solar energy so as to increase adoption of
solar energy among the educated people. Further, government should create incentives to
encourage men to adopt biogas by sensitizing them on the importance of biogas a source of
renewable energy.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
Renewable EnergyDescription
Thesis Master of Arts in economics